Don’t miss the Drums on the Conococheague:

Then and Now Native American Powwow

September 9 & 10.

Event for July 29 to 30 is CANCELLED

“Terror on the Conococheague,” will be the weekend of July 29th & 30th

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We want to commemorate a different event from our local French & Indian War history each year to show the full breadth of our history. Stand by for more details, it promises to be even better this year.

Conococheague Institute’s Welsh Barrens Visitors Center,

12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, PA

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Departure is 8:30 a.m.

and return approximately 4:00 p.m.

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Among the morning stops, will be Williamsport, MD (confluence of the Conococheague with the Potomac) and Fort Frederick State Park. In Williamsport, there were storehouses for the British expeditions heading west to fight the French, which were a target of French raids; the ford for the great Iroquois warpath heading through the Shenandoah Valley; and George Washington’s plans for a capitol city.

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At Fort Frederick in Big Pool, MD, participants will tour the massive stone fort and explore why was it built there, why it was stone and what were its purposes? While at the fort, participants will enjoy a delicious box lunch prepared by Chef Marcel of the Alpine Eatery.

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The tour then winds back into southern Pennsylvania with stops including the sites of frontier defense against the French and Indian raids. Forts in this area were both built by settlers and defended by militia and Pennsylvania provincial troops, including Captain Steele, a Presbyterian minister. There will be stops at the sites of McDowell’s and Rev. Steele’s fortified Presbyterian Church.

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En route, guides will discuss the significance of the Conococheague to the British and their colonies, as well as the French and their Indian allies. Tour guests will gain a greater understanding of frontier life amid warfare as well as captivity. In addition, Mr. Bricker will provide us with new research on the Studebaker family, particularly Peter Studebaker and his 1740s “Industrial Complex.”

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Fee of $45 includes: lunch, admission to Fort Frederick and its visitor center, take-home educational materials and the chartered bus. Space is limited and reservations are required.

See Conococheague Institute’s Newsletter

Awesome group. Great update from them.

HISTORY TIMELINE

George Washington requests an Accounting

.[Winchester, 15 September 1755]To Mr John Johnes, at Conogogee.

.Sir,I have sent the Bearer (of the Light Horse) to desire an exact Return of all the Things and Country’s Stores which are in your possession;1 and must desire, that you will be very particular in the Quantity and Quality of all Things, and send it immediately. I am your &c.G:W.Winchester: Septr 15th 1755.

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1. John Jones, the storekeeper at Conococheague, served the Virginia Regiment as a commissary in this area until, ill and “like to die,” he was replaced by Robert Rutherford, about 1 Dec. (Thomas Walker to GW, 4 Dec. 1755). Jones’s return is dated 17 Sept. 1755.

Accounting of Supplies

17 September 1755

To George Washington from John Jones, 17 September 1755

Conocagea [Md.] Septr 17 1755

Its impossible to Return an exact Accot of whats on hand as to perticulars,1 I haveg no delivery nor could not get any. Mr Thos Walker gott an estimate of the provisions Vizt.

1000 Barrls Flouer

50 Barrls Beef

27 Tun of Codd Fish

which I think comes near the purpose an exact Return Shall be deliverd Mr Dick on Wednessdays next of whats been deliverd in my time as likewise Ed above2 of whats on hand. I’m Sr Yr Most Obedt Hbl. Servt

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Thomas Walker Commissary

4 December 1755

Thomas Walker Commissary head at Winchester writes to GW:

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…The Stores here are in bad order also at Conigochieg Some of the Meat quite Spoild and more I am afraid in danger, that I shall as soon as the business at the Fort is in a good way come down to put things right here—Mr John Jones has been very Ill some time and is now like to die, which has obliged me to employ Mr Robt Rutherford to do the duty here and has occasioned Much loss of time to me.2 … I have bought two hundred Busshells of Salt at Conigochig of Mr Ross4

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2. Robert Rutherford (1728–1803), brother of Thomas Rutherford, remained Walker’s deputy commissary until the fall of 1757. On GW’s recommendation, Dinwiddie commissioned Rutherford in November of that year to raise a company of rangers. GW professed to have “no particular attachment” to Rutherford(GW to Dinwiddie, 24 Oct. 1757), but a friendship apparently developed between the two men. When GW was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1758, Rutherford sent him a warm, congratulatory letter. Rutherford himself served in the House of Burgesses, first from Frederick County (1766–1771) and then from Berkeley County (1772–1776), and was also a delegate to the Virginia conventions at the outbreak of the Revolution. His political career ended in 1797 after he failed to be elected for a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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4. Dr. David Ross (d. 1778) of Maryland supplied GW’s forces with flour from his mill and with other stores. He served as “the commissary for the maryland troops” (GW to Dinwiddie, 27 June 1757).